MELBOURNE (Reuters) – It was a bad day at the office for Sloane Stephens but an unforgettable one for Chinese qualifier Wang Qiang, who sent the former semi-finalist spinning out of the Australian Open with a stinging first-round defeat on Monday. American Stephens entered the tournament seeded 24th after enjoying a confidence boost from winning […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic marched imperiously into the second round of the Australian Open with a dominant 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over Chung Hyeon on Monday. The 28-year-old Serb looked as untroubled by the Melbourne heat as he was by the South Korean teenager in the 115-minute contest, […]
By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE (Reuters) – It was very much business as usual for Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams at the Australian Open on Monday, even if allegations of widespread match-fixing cast a shadow over the opening day of the year’s first grand slam. As the sun shone and more than 70,000 fans streamed through […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Defending champion Serena Williams dispelled any doubts about her fitness and form after a four-month break from the game with a tense 6-4 7-5 win over feisty Italian Camila Giorgi to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday. The world number one had barely swung a racquet in anger […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – World number one Novak Djokovic said a member of his staff was approached about fixing a match early in his career, and he questioned whether betting companies should be allowed to sponsor big tennis tournaments. The reigning Australian Open champion was speaking after the sport was rocked by allegations that the authorities […]
An epic semifinal- Nadal vs Verdasco- Australian Open 2009 After Roger Federer dismantled the big-serving Andy Roddick in straight sets to enter fourth final of the Australian Open in his career, it was time for all-Spanish men’s semifinals. The semifinal was between Spain’s no .1 Rafael Nadal and Spain’s no. 2 Fernando Verdasco. On one […]
By Nick Mulvenney MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will be hoping to get the Australian Open off to a sizzling start when they play back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena on Monday. The weather also looks set to do its part in keeping temperatures high from the off at Melbourne Park […]
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Viktor Troicki will go into the Australian Open with his confidence sky high after retaining his title at the Sydney International with a thrilling 2-6 6-1 7-6(7) victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday. The tough 29-year-old Serbian, who won the title as a qualifier last year, looked dead and buried after Dimitrov […]
MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Serena Williams brushed off concerns about her fitness on Saturday and declared herself “at 130 percent” for her Australian Open title defence. The 21-times grand slam singles champion has played almost no competitive tennis since the U.S. Open last September and pulled out of the Hopman Cup two weeks ago with knee […]
